Kelly Ripa Decides On A New Permanent Co-Host For Her Show

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Kelly Ripa has been the host of her ABC daily morning show ‘Live’ since 2001. She and Regis Philbin hosted the show for many years before he stepped out. The two have a strained relationship today.

Ripa briefly co-hosted with Michael Strahan, but he then left for ABC’s “Good Morning America.” It’s been a year since Strahan left, and finally Ripa has chosen a new co-host.

On Monday Ripa surprised her guests with announcing that the position now goes to Ryan Seacrest. Seacrest has been a multi-host on many different platforms and will be relocating to New York from Los Angeles for his new hosting job. He will still be the syndicated daily drive-time radio host of L.A.’s KIIS-FM program and has plans to build a radio studio at WABC-TV in New York.

Ripa said in a statement, “Ryan is a quintessential broadcaster and at the top of his game. I am thrilled to start my mornings with him every day, and we are so fortunate at ‘Live’ to have him join the family. Ryan is a close friend and his star shines as brightly off camera as it does on. His tremendous success is only matched by his impeccable reputation. Plainly said, everyone loves him, and so will our daily viewers.”

Seacrest commented, “Not only is Kelly Ripa one of the most talented live hosts in broadcast TV; she’s also become a very dear friend to me over the years. It’s consistently been my privilege and pleasure to work alongside Kelly with all her incredible talents, charm and humor. I’ve been so fortunate in my career to be a part of some incredible TV programs, and I’m excited to join daytime’s top entertainment talk show, and most important, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather share this new chapter with than Kelly Ripa – she’s a dream broadcast partner, and I can’t wait to start.”

Seacrest has already been co-host with Ripa on the show several times in the past year. He was on the show in February helping her the shows annual post-Oscars edition.

He is also known for his production company, Ryan Seacrest Productions (RSP), were he produces E’s “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and Bravo’s “Shahs of Sunset.”

“When you combine those attributes with the talents and experience of the incomparable Kelly Ripa, you have two skilled and entertaining broadcasters, with great chemistry. Add in an experienced production team and a successful 30-year franchise and you have the perfect combination,” said Michael Gelman, the longtime exec producer of “Live.”